Power tool

Abstract

The invention relates to a power tool including a support arm and a tool member supported at a first end of the support arm, where a drive motor at a second end of the support arm is arranged to power a drive belt that drives the tool member. The support arm comprises a frame member and a cover attached to the frame member, wherein the first end of the support arm further supporting a shield at least partially enclosing the tool member. A distance member is arranged between the frame member and the shield and extends radially at right angles to the drive shaft, wherein a radially outer portion of the distance member is spaced a predetermined distance(s) from the shield.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A power tool comprising:
 a support arm, the support arm being elongate and having a first end and a second end that is disposed opposite the first end; 
 a tool member supported at a first end of the support arm; 
 a drive belt; 
 a drive belt pulley; 
 a drive shaft; 
 a drive motor; and 
 a shield; 
 wherein the drive motor is disposed at the second end of the support arm and the drive motor is arranged to power the drive belt to drives the tool member via coupling of the drive belt to the drive belt pulley, coupling of the drive belt pulley to the drive shaft, and coupling of the drive shaft to the tool member; 
 the support arm comprising a frame member and a cover attached to the frame member via fasteners, the frame member and the cover defining the first end of the support arm and the second end of the support arm; 
 the frame member and the cover forming a belt chamber enclosing the drive belt and a first drive belt pulley with a drive shaft for driving the tool member; 
 the support arm further supporting the shield at the first end, the shield at least partially enclosing the tool member; 
 wherein the power tool further comprises a distance member arranged between the frame member and a side portion of the shield and the distance member extends in a plane defined by the distance member at right angles to the drive shaft; 
 wherein a peripheral edge portion of the distance member is spaced a predetermined distance from the shield along a direction parallel to a rotational axis of the drive shaft; 
 wherein the distance member is in contact with an edge portion of the cover along at least a part of the first end of the support arm. 
 
     
     
       2. A power tool according to  claim 1 , wherein a space between the distance member and a side portion of the shield forms a draining channel. 
     
     
       3. A power tool according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the distance member extends a second predetermined distance outside the edge portion of the cover contacting the distance member. 
     
     
       4. A power tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the distance member comprises a flat annular section that engages the frame member and an additional rear section that extends a second predetermined distance away from the first end of the support arm. 
     
     
       5. A power tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the distance member comprises a protruding edge, the protruding edge being arranged along at least an upper portion of the outer periphery of the distance member, the protruding edge extending a second predetermined distance towards the shield. 
     
     
       6. A power tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the distance member is mounted fixed against rotation on the frame member via holes in the distance member that engage with the frame member. 
     
     
       7. A power tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises a first surface arranged parallel with and adjacent a rotational plane of the drive belt pulley and a second surface extending between the first surface and the frame member. 
     
     
       8. A power tool according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the frame member comprises threaded fixing members configured to engage with the fasteners to attach the cover to the frame member, which threaded fixing members are elongated in a direction parallel to the axis of the drive shaft for the drive belt pulley. 
     
     
       9. A power tool according to  claim 8 , wherein the cover is disposed at the first end of the support arm or at the second end adjacent the drive motor. 
     
     
       10. A power tool according to  claim 9 , wherein the cover is removably mounted onto the threaded fixing members on the frame member via engagement with the fasteners. 
     
     
       11. A power tool comprising:
 a support arm, the support arm being elongate and having a first end and a second end that is disposed opposite the first end; 
 a tool member supported at the first end of the support arm; 
 a drive belt; 
 a drive belt pulley, the drive belt pulley defining a rotational axis; 
 a drive shaft that rotates about the rotational axis; 
 a drive motor; and 
 a shield; 
 wherein the drive motor is disposed at the second end of the support arm and the drive motor is arranged to power the drive belt to drive the tool member via coupling of the drive belt to the drive belt pulley, coupling of the drive belt pulley to the drive shaft, and coupling of the drive shaft to the tool member; 
 the support arm comprising a frame member and a cover attached to the frame member via fasteners, the frame member and the cover defining the first end of the support arm; 
 the frame member and the cover forming a belt chamber enclosing the drive belt and a first drive belt pulley with a drive shaft for driving the tool member; 
 the support arm further supporting the shield at the first end, the shield at least partially enclosing the tool member; 
 wherein the power tool further comprises a distance member arranged between the frame member and a side portion of the shield and the distance member extends in a plane defined by the distance member at right angles to the drive shaft; 
 wherein a peripheral edge portion of the distance member is spaced a predetermined distance from the shield along a direction parallel to a rotational axis of the drive shaft; 
 wherein the cover comprises a side surface arranged orthogonal to the rotational axis and facing away from the tool member and a second surface arranged between the side surface and the frame member; 
 wherein a portion of the second surface extends over at least a part of the outer periphery of the frame member and into contact with the distance member. 
 
     
     
       12. A power tool comprising:
 a support arm, the support arm being elongate and having a first end and a second end that is disposed opposite the first end, the support arm comprising a frame member and a cover attached to the frame member via fasteners; 
 a tool member supported by the support arm at the first end of the support arm, the tool member being driven by a drive shaft; 
 a shield at least partially enclosing the tool member, the shield being supported by the support arm at the first end of the support arm; and 
 a distance member disposed between the frame member and a portion of a side of the shield, the distance member and a portion of the side of the shield being configured to form a draining channel between the distance member and the portion of the side of the shield; 
 wherein the frame member and the cover form a belt chamber enclosing a drive belt, a first drive belt pulley, and the drive shaft. 
 
     
     
       13. The power tool of  claim 12 , wherein the distance member is in contact with an edge portion of the cover along at least a part of the support arm at the first end of the support arm. 
     
     
       14. The power tool of  claim 12 , wherein the distance member comprises a lip extending towards the portion of the side of the shield, the lip being disposed on a portion of a periphery of the distance member.